By James Wells
The leading European annual exhibition for the wine and spirits industry, ProWein, is inviting Australian wine and spirit exporters to register for the 2009 event after this year’s show attracted more than 33,000 trade visitors and 3,160 exhibitors from 46 countries.
Among the local companies exhibiting at this year’s event were: Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, Penfolds Wines, Capel Vale, Rosemount Estate, De Bortoli Wines, Bimbagen Estate, Winestyle Australia, Sandfire Australian Wines, Yarraman Estate, Warburn Estate Wines, Rosenvale Vineyards, Nugan Estate, Logan Wines, LanzThomson Vineyards, Hungerford Hill, Fox Gordon, Cumulus Wines, Condo Wines.
Major trends at ProWein 2008 included biodynamic wines, white wines with lower alcohol content, red wines with native grape varieties indigenous to specific areas, and distilled spirits matched with foods.
According to the managing director of the exhibition, Wilhelm Niedergoeker, visitors grew by six per cent at the Düsseldorf-based event that was held in mid-March.
“ProWein’s concept is truly one-of-a-kind in the whole world. It extends unto all relative market segments and provides all manner of important orientation aids to every part of the industry,” Niedergoeker said.
“An overly high proportional number of the additional visitors came primarily from Scandinavia and eastern Europe. In the latter case from the increasingly dynamic consumer markets including Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic,” he said.
“A special cause for celebration was the fact that this year some 86 per cent of all visitors in attendance were personally responsible for their firm’s product acquisition, further attesting to the high quality of attendees.”
Next year’s event will be held from March 29 to 31, 2009. For more information on exhibiting or attending the fair contact the Australian ProWein representative Rudi Barth on 02 8966 9159 or email info@german-trade.com.au.